This set of programs is designed to have a data checking system for the GPS, and I also added a temperature sensor just for the fun of it. At some point I would like to add the accelerometer and altimeter. These are not the final programs, As I'm sure more stuff will be added in the coming weeks.

Both of the programs are made up entirely of subroutines. I think I have everything working correctly with the subroutines, though I haven't had much time to test the programs. The only problem I may have with this set up is all the subsubroutines. In the data checking portion of the programs, it is set up with IF...THEN statements which kick the program out to other subroutines depending on what happens with the data.

I am having significant trouble with one of the microcontrollers. When I go to run the program, I get a message that there is no usable port or that there is no device on the port. On the board itself, the light that comes on when it is connected to the computer is red, and blinking quickly, probably 7 or 10 times per second (I didn't specifically time it though). The light that comes on when the battery is plugged in comes on green, as it always has. The battery is new. I need to play with it and figure out what is going on with the thing. Until I do figure it out, I can't test the system. Milo and Ari: if you guys hurry up and get your radio licenses, you can set it up and test it for me, since I think I will need a new board.

HOW IT SHOULD WORK:- The balloon end will collect data.- The data will be transmitted from the balloon to the ground.- The ground end will receive, save, and resend the data back to the balloon.- The balloon end will receive the data checking signal and compare it to the original data collected.(Here the system gets complicated)- If the data that is resent from the ground to the balloon matches the original data, the balloon end will transmit a "2".-- On the ground end, the 2 means that the data was received correctly and it will then be displayed.- If the data that is resent from the ground to the balloon does not match the original data, the balloon end will transmit a "1".-- On the ground end, the 1 means the data was received incorrectly, and the program will kick into another subroutine to clear the first data and receive the original data again.-- Once the original data is sent again, the system will restart the data checking portion of the program, and continue to to go in this loop until the data is received correctly. - When the data is correctly received, the balloon end will collect the next set of data, send it, and the data check system will kick in again.

At this point, I have only set up the data checking system to work with the GPS data. Assuming that it works in the primary testing, I will add it to the temperature data system.

Also, I found a free online program to draw circuit schematics: Schematics.comIt has all the symbols and everything for drawing the circuit schematics; it's great.